Demolition: Lagos lawmakers visit Makoko amid residents’ outcry

The waterfront settlement of Makoko was filled with emotionon Monday as residents and schoolchildren appealed for government interventionduring an on-the-spot assessment by members of the Lagos State House ofAssembly over ongoing evictions in the area. The lawmakers, drawn from the House Committee on Rules andBusiness, visited the community following growing concerns over forcedevictions and demolitions affecting Makoko, Oko Agbon and Sogunro waterfrontsettlements. They were received by members of the Makoko Gunuvi StudentsAssociation, who sang the national anthem and held placards bearing messagessuch as “Our community is our home, help us protect it,” while pleading withthe government to halt further demolitions. At the centre of the dispute is a high-voltage powertransmission line traversing the waterfront. While the government insists thatstructures must not be erected beneath the cables for safety reasons, residentsallege that demolition exercises have extended far beyond the agreed 100-metresafety corridor, with claims that buildings as far as 522 metres away wereaffected. The Baale of Oko Agbon, Chief Emmanuel Shemede, describedthe situation as a humanitarian crisis, saying many residents had been renderedhomeless. “Many people are now homeless and are sleeping in theircanoes, including women and children,” Shemede said. “The government came andstarted demolishing our houses beyond what we agreed on. We are not fightingthe government; we are only seeking a solution.” Another community representative, Kojo Phineas, called onthe authorities to provide immediate relief for affected families, includingcompensation and temporary shelter. He also alleged that some residentssuffered intimidation, brutality and theft during the demolition process. The inspection exercise was briefly disrupted when adisagreement among residents escalated, prompting lawmakers to avoid aparticular section of the waterfront to prevent violence and continue theirassessment elsewhere. Members of the delegation included the Chairman of YabaLocal Government Area, Hon. Adebayo Adefuye, alongside officials from relevantgovernment agencies. Speaking after the visit, Chairman of the House Committee onRules and Business, Hon. Noheem Adams, urged residents to remain calm andannounced a temporary suspension of further demolition activities pending theAssembly’s decision. “We cannot take a decision today because this visit isstrictly to assess the situation on ground,” Adams said. “However, we areappealing to everyone that the status quo should be maintained. If thegovernment respects the decision of the House of Assembly, the people must alsorespect it.” For residents, the uncertainty remains deeply unsettling. Astudent leader, Agbola, noted that Makoko represents several interconnectedwaterfront communities whose history, culture and livelihoods are inseparablefrom the lagoon. He said residents were demanding the rebuilding of demolishedhomes and adequate compensation for displaced families. Lawmakers are expected to deliberate on their findings at ascheduled meeting of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday, February 10,where a final decision on the fate of the affected waterfront communities isanticipated.

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